Agenda and draft minutes

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The Committee held a minutes’ silence in memory of Chris Bamfield, who was a well-respected Member of Staff whose funeral was being held the following day.   The Committee sent its condolences to his wife and family.

The Chairman reminded the Committee that the meeting was being recorded and streamed live on You Tube.

The Chairman also asked that mobile phones and Ipads be switched off.  She asked that Councillors did not use them for this meeting.  She referred to the recent Planning Training session where the Council’s Legal Advisor had explained that it was important that, as part of the democratic process, the public saw that Members made their own decisions on planning applications and could not be contacted by other people during the meeting.   It was also important that the Committee all received the same information on which they could make their decision.  9.3 of the Committee’s Code of Conduct stated that Members should not engage in social media or electronic communications, passing or receiving notes during the meeting.

She added that additional information had come from Councillor Jones and this would be explored further.  A review of the situation would be taken in 6 months’ time.

In response to a comment from Councillor Rust, the Chairman explained that hard copies of the agenda were sent to the Committee, and a hard copy of the NPPF had also been provided.  Officers would also provide any further information requested by the Committee.

The Democratic Services Officer then carried out a roll call to determine attendees.

To receive any apologies for absence and to note any substitutions.

Apologies for absence had been received from Councillors Howland (Cllr Whitby sub), Joyce (Cllr Rust sub), Patel (Cllr Sandell sub) and Storey (Cllr Blunt sub).

The Chairman thanked the substitutes for attending and taking part in the meeting.

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the Meeting held on 17 May 2021.

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 17 May 2021 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Please indicate if there are any interests which should be declared.  A declaration of an interest should indicate the nature of the interest (if not already declared on the Register of Interests) and the agenda item to which it relates.  If a disclosable pecuniary interest is declared, the Member should withdraw from the room whilst the matter is discussed.

These declarations apply to all Members present, whether the Member is part of the meeting, attending to speak as a local Member on an item or simply observing the meeting from the public seating area.

Councillor Bone declared an interest in relation to item 8/2(d) – Land South of Old Battery House, Cross Bank Road, King’s Lynn as his father was an employee of the applicant and would not take part in the debate or decision.

Councillor Bubb declared that he was a Member of the King’s Lynn Internal Drainage Board.

To consider any business, which by reason of special circumstances, the Chairman proposes to accept, under Section 100(b)(4)(b) of the Local Government Act, 1972.

There was none.

Members wishing to speak pursuant to Standing Order 34 should inform the Chairman of their intention to do so and on what items they wish to be heard before the meeting commences.

The following Councillors attended the meeting and addressed the Committee, as follows:

Councillor                 Item              Application

Cllr Bhondi               8/1(a)            Watlington – comments to be read out.

Cllr Jones                 8/2(b)            King’s Lynn

Cllr de Whalley         8/2(e)            North Wootton

To receive any Chairman’s correspondence.

The Chair reported that any correspondence received had been read and passed to the appropriate officer.

To receive the Schedule of Late Correspondence received since the publication of the agenda.

A copy of the late correspondence received after the publication of the agenda, which had been previously circulated, was tabled.  A copy of the agenda would be held for public inspection together with a list of background papers.

The Committee is asked to note the Index of Applications.

The Committee noted the index of applications.

Before the Committee reached the determination of applications, the Chairman asked for advice from the Council’s Legal Advisor as Councillor Rust and Ryves still had their Ipads in operation.  The Council’s Legal Advisor explained that Standing Order 15, part D referred.

The Chairman advised that as Councillor Rust and Ryves still had their Ipads in operation that a vote in accordance with Standing Order 15, part D,15.24 and 25 should take place.

In accordance with Standing Order 13 (m) a vote was carried out asking Councillors Rust and Ryves not take part in the meeting, which was carried.

Councillors Rust and Ryves then confirmed that their Ipads had been switched off, therefore the Chairman agreed to rescind the decision.

To consider and determine the attached Schedule of Planning Applications submitted by the Executive Director.

The Committee considered schedules of applications for planning permission submitted by the Executive Director for Planning & Environment (copies of the schedules will be published with the agenda).  Any changes to the schedules will be recorded in the minutes.

RESOLVED:  That the application be determined as set out at (i) – (viii) below, where appropriate, to the conditions and reasons or grounds of refusal, as set out in the schedules signed by the Chair.

(i)            20/01661/OM

Watlington:  Land rear of 24 – 36 Downham Road:  Residential development for up to 22 dwellings (outline application including access only): VLH Developments Limited

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The Principal Planner introduced the report and explained that the application sought outline planning consent with access only for up to 22 dwellings.  The site was located centrally within the built extent of the village of Watlington with Downham Road to the east, and a footpath and Watlington Primary school to the west.  The site was 0.92 ha in size and currently consisted of garden land with some sheds / barn, largely surrounded by existing dwellings.  The proposed site access was via Downham Road and would require the demolition of an existing dwelling No. 32 Downham Road.

Watlington was a Key Rural Service Centre within the adopted Core Strategy (2011), and the site was located within the development boundary for the village.

The application had been referred to the Committee for determination at the request of Councillor Bhondi.

The Committee noted the key issues for consideration when determining the application as set out in the report.

In accordance with the adopted public speaking protocol, Charles McIntyre (supporting) addressed the Committee in relation to the application.

In accordance with Standing Order 34, the Democratic Services Officer read out the comments from Cllr Bhondi in support of the application.

Councillor Parish expressed some concerns in relation to the application as it was a non-allocated, was not infill and was back-land development and asked why this application was considered suitable for development.

The Assistant Director explained that Watlington was a Key Rural Service Centre, and windfall development was key in terms of housing supply.  The site met the terms of policy and settlement hierarchy.

The Principal Planner advised that this was a planned form of development and was suitable and provided affordable housing, play space and improvements for biodiversity.

The Principal Planner also advised that the existing bungalow would be demolished in order to achieve the required visibility splays to be secured.

Councillor Squire referred to the indicative plan and considered that the proposal looked cramped and overdevelopment compared to properties in the vicinity which were more spaced out.  She asked whether the housing would be open market and also what the biodiversity benefits would be.

In response, the Principal Planner advised that the scheme was all open market housing would secure 4 affordable housing units.  The biodiversity benefits were outlined in late correspondence and a condition on pages 29  ...  view the full minutes text for item PC9:a

The Committee is asked to note the report.

The Arboricultural Officer presented a report which updated the Committee on recent Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs) that had been served from November 2020 to 30 April 2021, along with a summary on some other aspects of the work undertaken in relation to trees.

RESOLVED:   That the report be noted.

To receive the Schedule of Planning Applications determined by the Executive Director.

The Committee received schedules relating to the above.

RESOLVED:   That the reports be noted.

The Chairman reported that this was the last meeting for Helen Morris, Principal Planner who would be leaving the authority.  The Chairman took the opportunity to thank Helen for her hard work and added that she had been a pleasure to deal with.  On behalf of the Committee, she wished Helen well for the future.